Headgear supporting structure



Aug. 13, 1957 w. s. FINKEN HEADGEAR SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed May 10.1954 3 Shets-Sheet 1 K INVENTOR.

- l/l//u me tS. F//V/EA/ Aug. 13, 1957 w. s. FINKEN HEADGEAR SUPPORTINGSTRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1954 INVENTOR. 5. fnv/fm A11813, 1957 w. s. FINKEN HEADGEAR SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed lay 10, 1954 United States Patent O HEADGEAR SUPPORTING STRUCTUREWalter S. Finken, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Leonard P. Frieder,GreatNeck, N. Y.

Application May 10, 1954, Serial No. 428,492

3 Claims. (Cl. 2 3) This invention relates to headgear structures andparticularly to riggings for supporting safety helmets on the heads ofthe wearers.

Certain aspects of this invention are improvements on the safety helmetsand supporting riggings therefor described and claimed in the copendingU. S. patent applications of Leonard P. Frieder and Walter S. Finken,Serial No. 201,904, tiled December 2l, 1950, entitled, HeadgearStructure, now Patent No. 2,739,309, datedl March 27, 1956, and No.292,824, iiled June l1, 1952, also entitled Headgear Structure, nowPatent No. 2,739,310 dated March 27, 1956.

Such safety helmets consist of an outer shell formed vof a light, rigidplastic material and supported on the headof the wearer by means of arigging which holds the shell spaced from the wearers head, so thatblows on the helmet shell are transmitted to the head only through therigging, which is built of tapes or straps of flexible material.

The headgear supporting riggings described and claimed in said copendingapplications include front and rear headband elements,.each of which isgenerally semi-circular. The two headband elements cooperate to form acomplete headband encircling the wearers head.V Those riggings alsoinclude a plurality of head straps connected at their ends'to theheadband at` diametrically opposite points and adapted to extend overthe head of the wearer. The riggings of said copending applications areY connected to the helmet by the use of loops of ilexible materialextending between the headband' and the helmet at spaced points and alsoby extending the ends of the headband elements beyond the headbandproper to the helmet land attaching those ends firmly to the helmet.

In the use of such helmets, particularly where the wearer-of the helmetis a person, e. g., a fireman, who works at a hazardous occupation, itis fairly common for the helmet shell to be chipped or cracked as aresult of external blows, while the rigging inside still remains in goodcondition. It has therefore been suggested 'to provide a rigging forsuch a helmet which is readily removable from the shell so that it maybe inserted in a new shell. v

It has also been proposed, for example, in the copending applications ofFrieder and Finken mentioned above, to include in the. rigging aheadband of adjustable size so that the same helmet and riggingstructure may be used for individuals having a wide range of head sizes.

In the helmet riggings of the 'prior artthesel riggings which areremovable andreplaceable in new shellshave not in most cases beenadjustable as vto head size. Where an adjustment as to head size hasbeen incorporated, the adjustment mechanism has usually been soconstructed that its setting is lost when the rigging is removed fromthe shell, and the mounting of such a rigging in a new shell requiresreadjustment of the head size.

In the prior art headgears, this, removal of the riggings has beenaccomplished by manipulation ofV elements on ice Such elements aresubject to which may rei sult in a loosening of the rigging. v

close resilient pads of sponge rubber orthe like.

In the copending application, Serial No. 201,904, mentioned above, thereis disclosed a rigging including ya headband connected to the shellstructure by inelastic elements. in such an arrangement, a blow on oneside of the shell structure Vis transmitted through the rigid shell tothe opposite side, where it acts through the inelastic elements to pullthe headband and the head away from the side on which the blow wasstruck. While such an arrangement is completely eiective to preventcontact between the shell and the wearers head, it sometimes results inan uncomfortably 4high rate of acceleration of the wearers head, when ablow is struck on the helmet.

Where avchin strap is used in connection with such a headgear, it hasbeen common to connect the ends of the chin strap to the helmet shell.

The rigging of the present invention is particularly intended to improvethe prior art riggings with respect to the comfort of the wearer, andwith respect to safety. It is also intended to improve such riggins withrespect to economy of materials and ease of manufacture.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplifiedheadgear supporting rigging of the type described. Another object is toprovide a rigging of the type described having an improved headband'structure. A further object is to 'provide a more comfortable headbandstructure.

Another object is to provide an improved headband structure which isgenerally tubular and includes an inf ternal pad arrangement.

Another object is to provide an improved headband structure comprisingfront and rear headband elements connected at their ends by straps andlength adjusting buckles, and means for protecting the wearers headagainst contact with the buckles.

Another object is to provide an improved rigging of the type describedincluding a headband and a chin strap attached at its ends to theheadband.

Another object is to provide an improved rigging of the type describedincluding a headband and improved connecting means extending betwen theheadband and the rigid shell of the helmet.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved rigging fora safety helmet, which rigging is`removable from the helmet shell forthe purpose of replacement in another shell.

Another object is to provide a rigging of the type described in whichthe adjustment of the headband size is not lost during the removal andreplacement of the rigging. A further object is to provide such arigging which is detachable only from the inside of the helmet.

Another object is to provide a rigging of the type described Which isimproved from the standpoint of the wea'rers comfort.

Another object is to provide, in a headgear rigging of the typedescribed, improved, simple, compact and inexpensive mechanism foradjusting the headband size.

Another object is to provide a headgear supporting rigging of the -typedescribed including improved shock absorbing mechanism.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained in thesupporting riggings described herein by providing a headband includingfront and rear generally semi-circular elements which are tubular andwhich en- The ends ofthe head band elements are connected by straps andbuckles for adjusting thel size of the headband.

In one modification of the invention described herein,

this headband structure is attached to the helmet shell by means ofelastic loops at the iront and rear, extending between the headband andanchor plates removably fastened to the shell, and by means of elasticstrap members which extend tangentially to the headband adjacent theopposite ends of the two adjusting mechanisms, and which are alsoattached to anchor plates removably fastened to the shell, so that theadjusting mechanism is held in tension at all times when the rigging is`mounted in the helmet. Furthermore, when the size of the headband isproperly adjusted, then the tension bands tend to hold the buckles awayfrom compressive contact with the sides of the wearers head. The riggingalso includes three head straps extending over the top of the wearershead. One headstrap extends from front to rear and is attached at itsends to the headbands. Two other headstraps extend diagonally from oneside to the other of the helmet shell crossing each other at the centerof the shell. The ends of these two headstraps are attached to the sameanchor plates by which the tension bands supporting the headband areconnected to the helmet shell. The entire rigging may be removed fromthe shell simply by removing all the anchor plates, so that nodisturbance of the settings of the buckles is required.

In another modification of the invention described herein, the headbandis connected to the helmet shell by means of single straps having oneend anchored to the tubular headband, and the other end removablyanchored to the shell by means of screw rivets, with the screw head onthe inside of the shell. Between each strap and buckle assembly and thehead of the wearer there is provided a guard which protects the headagainst contact with the straps or buckles. The rigging illustrated isprovided with chin strap connections mounted on the headband itself.Head straps are provided extending diametrically i across the rigging.The fore and aft headstrap is provided with simplied connections betweenits ends and the head band element.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following a specification and claims, takentogether with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a bottom plan view of one form of helmet embodying theinvention, with certain detachable parts disconnected and moved awayfrom their normal positions;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIL-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line V-V of Fig. l,on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to a portion of Fig. 2,but on a larger scale, illustrating a modified form of construction.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of a firemans helmet provided with amodified form of rigging constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 8 is a vertically sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII ofFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line IX--IX of Fig.7, on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, with certain parts shown in section, andillustrating the attachment of the chin strap to the headband.

Figs. 1 to 5 There is shown in these gures a helmet including a shell 1having a contour which is more or less conven` A detailedcross-sectional view of the headband element 2 appears in Fig. 5. Thestructural details of the headband element 3 are similar, withexceptions described in detail below. The headband element 2 comprisesan elongated tape 4 which extends in a semicircle about halfway aroundthe headgear and is formed at its opposite ends with loops 4a to receiveadjusting links or buckles 5, of conventional construction. There ismounted on the inside of the tape 4 a pad structure, best seen in Fig. 5and including an `outside cover 6 of woven material, a pad 7 which maybe of sponge rubber and an inside cover 8 of some material which will becomfortable to the wearer, for example, soft leather. The tape 4 isstitched to the outside cover 6 throughout the length of the latter, asshown at 4c. The outside cover 6 and inside cover 3 are stitchedtogether along their upper edge, as shown at 6a. The lower edge of theinside cover 8 is folded over the bottom of pad 7 and outside cover 6,and is stitched to the outside cover throughout its length, as shown at8a. Near the ends of the covers, another row of stitching 8b holds themand pad 7 together. This row of stitching 8b is omitted near the centersof the headband elements to increase the comfort of the wearer.

The pad 7 is somewhat shorter than the covers 6 and 8, as shown in Fig.3. The tape 4 on the rear headband element 3 has no loops at its ends,but is instead provided with extensions 4b adapted for insertion throughopenings in the links 5. At least one opening in each link is providedwith teeth for engaging the tape extension 4b to hold it againstslipping, in a manner well known in the art. The size of the headbandmay be adjusted by sliding either extension 4b through its buckle 5. Byutilizing both extensions 4b and both buckles 5, the size of theheadband may be adjusted without disturbing the centering of theheadband with respect to the shell.

Mounted on the inside of the helmet shell 1 at the front and rearthereof are a pair of anchor plates 9. As best seen in Fig. 2, theanchor plates 9 are mounted by means of screws 10, whose heads areaccessible from outside the shell. The anchor plates 9 are provided withapertures to receive woven loops 11, of elastic material, which arestitched to the headband elements 2 and 3. The unstressed lengths of theloops 11 are such that the headband is normally held closely adjacentthe shell 1 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Four anchor plates 12 are attached to the shell 1 at the ends of twodiagonal diameters of the shell. The anchor plates 12 are attached tothe shell 1 by means of screws 13, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Near itsupper end, each anchor plate 12 is provided with an aperture to receivea loop formed on one end of a diagonal head strap 14. The two diagonalhead straps are stitched together where they cross at the center of thehelmet. Another head strap 15 extends from front to rear of the helmetand is stitched at its ends to the headband elements 2 and 3.

Near each end of each of the headband elements 2 and 3 there isattached, as by stitching (Fig. 3), an elastic band or strap 16 whichextends in a generally tangential direction from the headband toward theshell 1 and passes behind the adjacent anchor plate 12, being clampedbetweenthat anchor and the shell 1. The four elastic bands 16 cooperateto maintain the band length adjusting mechanism in tension as long asthe rigging is in place in the shell. This holds the adjustmentmechanism against slipping. Furthermore, when the size of the headbandis properly set, this tension arrangement tends to hold the buckles 5and the tape ends 4a and 4b away from the wearers head, thereby avoidingdiscomfort due to compressive engagement of these parts with the head.

It may be seen that the entire rigging may be removed from the helmetshell by taking out the screws 10 and 13, and that after such removalthe rigging may be replaced in a new shell. Furthermore, it should beapl parent that during such Vremoval and replacement the setting of theheadband adjustment is not disturbed.

There is mounted on the inside of the rear portion of the helmet a neckshield consisting of two cloth wings 17 connected by an elastic band 18.'This shield may be removably attached to the helmet by any suitablemeans, such as conventional snap connectors 25.

There are provided at the sides of the helmet a pair of chin straps 19attached at their ends to the helmet shell and provided with snapconnectors 20 for attachment to snap connectors 21 on the neck shieldwings 17. The chin straps 19 may be provided with the usual lengthadjusting andv disconnecting mechanism (not shown).

The helmet shell is provided, adjacent the rearmost end, with a link 22,pivotally attached to a plate 23 which is riveted to the shell 1. Thelink 22 serves as a means for hanging the helmet on a hook when not inuse.

Fig. 6

This figure illustrates a modied form of construction with respect tothe connection between the front and rear headband elements and theshell 1. Those parts in Fig. 6 which are the same as in Fig. 2 have beengiven the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 6, the headband element 2 is connected to the anchor plate 9 bymeans of an elastic loop 11 which may be the same as the elastic loop 11of Fig. 2 and also by a parallel loop 24 of inelastic material. The loop24 limits the maximum distance by which the headband element 2 can beseparated from shell 1 as a result of a blow. The loop 24 at the frontof the shell is effective to prevent contact between the rear of theshell and the wearers head. Specifically, suppose that a forwardlydirected blow is received on the rear of the helmet. It drives the shellforward, While the wearers head and the rigging remain stationary. Theelastic loop 11 stretches, and as it stretches, the rear of the helmetshell comes closer to the wearers head. Before the shell can touch thehead, however, the loop 11 stretches until it is the same length asinelastic loop 24. Loop 24 then stops further separation of the shellfrom the front of the head, and thereby prevents the rear of the shellfrom approaching the head any closer. Similarly, the loop 24 at the rearof the shell prevents contact between the front of the shell and thewearers head. Loops 24 will come into play only under extreme conditionsas when a severe blow is applied to the exterior of the shell.

Figs. 7 to 10 straps 36 which extend between the headband and the shell1.

Each of the headband elements 32 and 33 comprises, as is best seen inFig. 9, an inner cover 37 which is adapted to contact the head of thewearer and is formed of material such as soft leather which will becomfortable to the wearer. Each headband element also comprises a pad 38of suitable compressible material su-ch as sponge rubber, and an outercover 39, which may be of any suitable woven fabric.

Attached to each end of the front headband element 32 is a loop 32a,which receives one end of a link or buckle 40 of conventional form.Attached to each end of the rear headband element 33, is an extendingstrap 33a which passes through one or more apertures in the buckle 40.One of the apertures in the buckle 40 is provided with teeth (notshown), in a well known manner, to prevent slipping of the strap 33a.Fastened to each end of the forward headband element 32 on the innerside thereof and extending rearwardly is a guard structure 41, whichlies along the inside of loop 32d, buckle 40 and straps 33a and has itsrear end projecting through a suitable aperture formed in the innercover 37 of the rear headband element 33. The rear end of the guard 41is not fastened to the headband element 33, but is free to slide thereinas required by changes in the :adjustment of the head size by means ofthe straps 33a and buckles 40. The guards 41 are preferably constructedof-the same soft material as the inner covers 37 of the headbandelements.

The fore and aft headstraps 34 is attached at its ends to the headbandelements 32 and 33. Attachment is best shown in Fig. 8. The headbandelements 32 and 33 are provided with central apertures extendingvertically through the pads 38 and at their lower ends through thecovers 37. The headstrap 34 is provided at its ends with folded hems34a, which are thicker than the apertures in the headband elements, andprevent the headstrap from sliding through those apertures. v

y The lateral headstrap 35 is stitched at its ends to the strapextensions 33a, as best seen in Fig. 8.

The rigging including the headband structure and the headstraps ismounted on the helmet shell 1 by means of four connecting straps 36, oneof which is shown in detail in Fig. 9. The inner end of strap 36 extendsthrough a suitable aperture in the outer cover 39 4of the headbandelement and is stitched to that outer cover 39 at spaced localities, asindicated at 36a. The outer end of strap 36 is attached to the helmetshell 1, having a folded hem clamped between a washer 42 and theshell 1. The washer 42 is held in place by means of a screw 43-cooperating with a screw rivet 44. The straps 36 may be either elasticor inelastic. The advantages of making them elastic are explained inconnection with Fig. l.

By removing all the screws 43, the entire rigging may be removed fromthe helmet shell and transferred to a different helmet shell. Such atransfer of the rigging is commonly desirable when the helmet shellbecomes cracked or chipped as a result of blows or impacts. Note thatall the screws 43 are located on the inside `of the helmet shell, wherethey are not subject to contact with external objects which might loosenthem.

Fig. l0 illustrates an arrangement for connecting a chin strap tab 4S tothe headband element 32. The tab 45 extends through Suitable aperturesin the headband cover 37 :and in the pad 38, the tab, cover `and padbeing stitched together at the upper and lower edges of the headbandelement 32. The tab 45 is provided with a snap fastener 46, by which itmay be attached to a suitable chin strap structure 47 (Fig. 8).

By mounting the chin strap on the headband rather than on the helmetshell, shocks or impacts applied to the shell are not transmitted to thewearers face and chin through the chin straps but are instead absorbedin the headband and headstraps. The comfort of the wearer is therebygreatly increased.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of myinvention, other lmodifications thereof will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, and I therefore intend my invention to be limitedonly by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A headgear comprising an outer shell, means forming a headband spacedinwardly of the shell and adapted to encircle `closely the head of awearer, flexible spacer means connecting said headband means to theshell, said headband means comprising inner and outer covers of sheetmaterial, said covers being disposed vertically and attached to eachIother adjacent their top and bottom edges, a pad of resilient materialenclosed between said covers, :a chin strap member, said covers and saidpad having vertically aligned central apertures adapted to receive anend portion of said chin strap member, said chin strap member extendingfrom below through said 7 apertures, and stitching means fastening saidchin strap member to said headband.

2. A headgear comprising an, outer shell, means forming a headbandspaced inwardly of the 1shell and adapted to encircle closely the headof a wearer, ilexible spacer means connecting said headband means to theshell, said headband means comprising inner and outer covers of sheetmaterial, said covers being disposed vertically and attached to eachother adjacent their top and bottom edges, a pad of resilient materialenclosed between said covers, said flexible spacer means comprising aplurality of elongated straps spaced around said shell, and extendingsubstantially radially between the shell and the headband means, meansattaching the outer ends of the straps to the shell, said outer coverbeing slotted to `receive the inner ends of the straps, and stitchingmeans fastening said inner ends to said outer cover.

3. A headgear comprising an outer shell, means forming a headband spacedinwardly of the shell and adapted to encircle closely the head of awearer, exible spacer means connecting said headband means to the shell,said headband means including end portions movable toward and away fromeach other to vary the size of the headband, a buckle fixed to one ofsaid end portions and adapted to receive and adjustably hold the otherend portion so that the size of the headband may be fixed, and anelongated guard member of flexible sheet material guard member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,879,104 Cooper Sept. 27, 1932 1,977,215 Strauss Oct. 16, 19342,177,145 Lewis Oct. 24, 1939 2,359,387 Riddell Oct. 3, 1944 2,365,422Ludwell Dec. 19, 1944 2,371,712 Scholl et al Mar. 20, 1945 2,398,561Ruggiero Apr. 16, 1946 2,415,214 Lewis Feb. 4, 1947 2,421,427 Mamlin etal. June 3, 1947 2,536,467 Ruggiero Jan. 2, 1951 2,619,638 Cairns H Dec.2, 1952 2,639,428 MacLean May 26, 1953 2,706,294 Sprinkle Apr. 19, 19552,715,227 Turner Aug. 16, 1955

